The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-01-25
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Jan. "a, 1887.
Special Core spondence Of The Daily News.
1t is announced that in the event of
the Senate's rejecting, for second
time, the nomination of Matthews for
the position of Recorder of Deeds for
the District of Columbia, that the Press
ident will, in all probab lity, nominate
another colOred man for the position
The person who is said to have been Sc
lected by the President is William III.
Smith, who for the past twenty FIVE
years has been the assistant librarian of
the House of Repre- sentatives. Mr..
Smith was born a slave in the District of
Columbia, but with his family was eman-
cipated in 1859 by the will of gentle
man VINO owned him. From the time
of the emancipation of slaves down to
1872 he was Republican, but since that
time he has taken no part in politics.
During his long term of service as libra
rian, he has acquired such a complete
and accurate knowledge of the arrange
ment of the library that his services
have been considered invaluable, and his
removal has never been suggested by
either the Republican or Democratic par
ties. Mr.. Smith is exceedingly popular
at the Capitol, and it is said that the
President has received ample assn uances
from both Democratic and Republican
Senators. that in case his name is pre-
scented for the position that it will be at
once confirmed
The time fixed by law within which
French spolIation claims must be filed
expired on Friday last, at which time
) ,561 claims had been filed. A bill was
recently passed by the Senate, without
opposition, extending the time for filing
these claims for one year, and it will
doubtless pass the House of Representa-
tIveS.
Once In four years the Post Office De
partment informs the public that in case
an inventor has produced a new DEVICE
suitable for use i'll the postal service,
which would be an improvement on
those in use, a change would be made.
The announcement Is about 10 be made,
and wall of course result in the appear
ance of host of Inventors, each claim
ing his invention tn be the most cCm-
ptete and desirable for the particular u-e
tor which it Is intended, and each con
tident in the belief that the committee
IntTustrd with the duty of examining
the devices submitted for examination
Will agree with HIM in his opinion as to
the value of his particular invention as
compared with the hundreds of others
that are presented.
Speaker Carlisle has, in response to the
urgent request of the corps of lady news
paper CORE Spondtuts in Washington
designated that the first two rows OF
seats IN the private gallery, adjoining
the press gallery, be reserved for their
exclusive occupancy. This was done in
compliance with urgent demand
made to the committee on rules, but
now that their request has been granted,
the favor does not seem to be appre-
CIated, as not even those Who were the
most persistent In their efforts to secure
the concession have claimed the privI-
lege granted them by the Speaker.
The first State dinner given bv the
President and Mrs. Cleveland W as given
on Thursday evening. The families of
the Cabinet and a few others were en-
tertaIned. The presence of Mrs. Lamar,
the bride of the Cabinet, and Governor
Fttzhugh Lee and wife, from Richmond
rendered the occasion particularly inter
esting. III.